BACKGROUND: Bipolar II represents a significant subgroup of bipolar patients. However, there is limited evidence regarding the efficacy of pharmacological and/or psychosocial therapies. METHOD: Post-hoc analyses were undertaken using data on 20 (out of 120) patients who fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for BP II who had participated in a single-blind randomized controlled treatment trial (RCT) exploring the acute and long-term efficacy of group psychoeducation plus standard pharmacological treatment as compared with unstructured support groups plus standard pharmacological treatment. Eight BP II subjects had been randomized to a psychoeducation group and 12 to an unstructured support group. RESULTS: Psychoeducated, as compared to control group bipolar II patients, had significantly better 5-year outcomes, with lower mean number of BP episodes (p<.02), hypomanic episodes (p<.03) and depressive episodes (p<.03), fewer days spent in mood episodes (p=.004) and higher mean levels of functioning (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although these findings should be treated with caution, it appears that psychoeducation plus medication can benefit bipolar II subjects. Dedicated treatment trials will need to clarify whether these therapies require modifications in duration and/or content to meet the needs of bipolar II patients.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Bipolar II represents a significant subgroup of bipolarpatients. However, there is limited evidence regarding the efficacy of pharmacological and/or psychosocial therapies. METHOD: Post-hoc analyses were undertaken using data on 20 (out of 120) patients who fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for BP II who had participated in a single-blind randomized controlled treatment trial (RCT) exploring the acute and long-term efficacy of group psychoeducation plus standard pharmacological treatment as compared with unstructured support groups plus standard pharmacological treatment. Eight BP II subjects had been randomized to a psychoeducation group and 12 to an unstructured support group. RESULTS: Psychoeducated, as compared to control group bipolar IIpatients, had significantly better 5-year outcomes, with lower mean number of BP episodes (p<.02), hypomanic episodes (p<.03) and depressive episodes (p<.03), fewer days spent in mood episodes (p=.004) and higher mean levels of functioning (p<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although these findings should be treated with caution, it appears that psychoeducation plus medication can benefit bipolar II subjects. Dedicated treatment trials will need to clarify whether these therapies require modifications in duration and/or content to meet the needs of bipolar IIpatients.
Authors: Holly A Swartz; Paola Rucci; Michael E Thase; Meredith Wallace; Elisa Carretta; Karen L Celedonia; Ellen Frank Journal: J Clin Psychiatry Date: 2018 Mar/Apr Impact factor: 4.384
Authors: Hana Pavlickova; Filippo Varese; Angela Smith; Inez Myin-Germeys; Oliver H Turnbull; Richard Emsley; Richard P Bentall Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-04-26 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Richard K Morriss; Fiona Lobban; Steven Jones; Lisa Riste; Sarah Peters; Christopher Roberts; Linda Davies; Debbie Mayes Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2011-07-21 Impact factor: 3.630